Princess Mikayah “suffered an injury, vanned off” at Parx
Miss Mozart “vanned off” at Grants Pass
Runs for Luck “collapsed, vanned off” at Parx
Dreammaster “vanned off” at Louisiana
Souper Splendor “bled” at Belmont
Smoke ‘N’ Gloat “collapsed, vanned off” at Gulfstream
One Hidden Feature “vanned off” at Remington
My Emmally “collapsed on the track, vanned off” at Charles Town
Dinosaur Ben “vanned off” at Pimlico
Willie Big Bux “vanned off” at Remington
Big Dog Daddy “vanned off” at Santa Anita
My Pal Torres “vanned off” at Evangeline
Above Nike “hit the rail, fell, DNF” at Fairmount
Ernie Banker “vanned off” at Belmont
City Tavern “went wrong, vanned off” at Churchill
Ileavethelighton “vanned off” at Lone Star
Ba Queen of Hearts “bled” at Remington
While not all the “vanned” end up dead, most do, as borne out by our year-end FOIA reports. But even if death is not the ultimate result, the above are victims nonetheless, suffering painful injuries – in the case of the bleeders, pulmonary hemorrhage – so that some men may gamble, others chase pots of gold. (For any new confirmed deaths during the week, please see our running annual list.)
Dinosaur Ben underwent surgery at New Bolton. The fractional ownership group said he came through the surgery well, and they “can’t wait to go see him”.
They also thanked pimlico for sending him for surgery. Guess that was a face saving tactic on the day of the Black Eyed Susan!
I’ll be curious to see what the long range outlook is for this poor horse.
Oh, and then the ownership group went on to rave about their other horses entered in races, and quickly moved on from their concern over Ben! Go figure. Business must go on!
Yes, it’s a business first and foremost. Humane treatment of horses is “not a factor” while saving face is definitely a factor.
Yet another horrific list of suffering and probably dying.
I’ve not received a response yet to my FOIA request to the PA Horse Racing Commission regarding RUNS FOR LUCK tortured by Patricia Farro and Owner Vaccaro Racing Stable.
It’s only been 2 days so it should be forthcoming.
I want people to know that there are hundreds of racehorses that are the “walking dead.”
That means that these racehorses have been tortured for so long and the evidence is in their Past Performance records AKA PP’s. that they are highly vulnerable to breaking down and dying.
SPECIAL RISK is a 7 y.o. mare whose life on the track has been a continuous torture tour that is still going on under the abuse of multiple racehorse killer Scott Lake.
She’s been forced to run and put under excessive whipping no less than 75 times!
Her life in the claiming ranks has been horrific being claimed over and over again, barn to barn trainer to trainer.
She’s probably been injected hundreds of times into her joints, veins, tendons, and muscles in order to keep her going while keeping these abusive records secret.
She’s earned over $318,000, but that’s not enough for a soft landing because these parasites just keep sucking the life out of them until they have no more life left to give and end up dying in the dirt.
The ongoing abuse, inhumane treatment and precipitous decline of HONORABLE SERVICE.
This 7 y.o gelding is a shadow of his former self forced to run for no less than 70 starts raking up $321,532 in his better days, but those who made all of the money off of him DUMPED him like they all do.
Dropped into claiming and shuffled from multiple owner/trainer barns while they squeeze the life out of him.
Some of his races lost by 25+ lengths then throwing in a performance keeps him attractive to the parasites who see him as a host more to squeeze out of him.
Nowhere in this disgusting industry is any types of mechanisms in place to protect any racehorse let alone a racehorse who has more than earned his safe retirement only to be dumped or killed.
This racehorse apologists have no shame, no feelings and no compassion for the very racehorses that churns billions in profits for these ungrateful bastards.
Incidentally, contacted 3 pro-horse funded aftercare programs to ask if they had any spaces for another 3 racehorses found in kill pens the other day – NONE – NOT ONE has responded.
The turn around times now for racehorses in kill pens is about 24 hours so time if of the essence and these pro-horse racing aftercare programs are well aware of the situation and I think they deliberately wait 3 days to call you back knowing that they have already boarded the slaughter bound truck.
Then they call you after the time has lapsed – oh well – sorry we couldn’t help you.
Gina, do you know Darlene in Medford,NJ?
Lot’s of people called Darlene in New Jersey so NO I don’t.
Maybe a last name could narrow it down to thousands.
Owner of Forgotten Angels equine rescue for a long time. Maybe she can help rescue some of the horses you are trying so hard to save
Is Forgotten Angels TAA accredited?
Patrick, sorry I don’t know about your question.Just tried to call there but got voice message. Mrs. Supnick testified in NJ Senate for Bill S-455. Rescues from slaughter and started 2011
If they’re TAA, they’re under a gag order to not speak ill of horseracing; therefore, TAA facilities, while good for individual horses, are no friends to horsekind.
To answer Patrick’s question, I don’t know if that rescue organization is TAA-accredited. But it is NOT against horseracing.
Thank you for the clarity, Joy. My advice: support a rescue that unapologetically speaks out against horseracing. As I always say, if you’re in rescue, it should be your goal to go out of business some day. And that can’t/won’t happen as long as horseracing (the rodeo, et al.) exists.
Thought this tweet that I saw the other day was telling…
“We severed our ties with TAA, TCA and others because part of the criteria for receiving grants is to support racing on our social media & never question or criticize. It’s blood money so no thank you & also just a tiny % of operational expense.” – @blazingkarin
Nancy – thanks for trying, but I refuse to support any group that doesn’t condemn the horse racing industry and take a clear stance on ending it.
Thanks Joy & Patrick for clarifying the difference between a TAA and non-TAA racehorse rescue group.
Although any racehorse getting saved is a miracle everybody must pull together to put and end to this.
When horse racing ends so will about 12,000 per year of racehorses not end their life on the slaughterhouse floor.
Although I was happy to help Sequana down in Puerto Rico I was shocked to see the head of the Caribbean Racehorse Rescue, Shelley Blodgett, dressed up in a fancy hat promoting horse racing on Twitter.
I can’t process people who see the destruction of racehorses first-hand by this vile business and then turn around and support it.
It’s shocking, but they do it for the money to help the horses I guess, but it’s actually not helping at all.
Shame on horse racing for requiring TAA racehorse rescues to shut their mouth and to actually promote horse racing as a good thing.
Is the pittance they throw you really worth it – it’s not to me
Patrick and Wanda, I just went over all their info. Found nothing relating to TAA. I don’t have the expertise you all have. If they could or would help, that would be great. If not, just a suggestion. Patrick.this is why we have you..our fearless and knowledgeable leader!!
I didn’t see anything that said they were TAA related or connected either. I don’t know what the status of FAER in New Jersey is, but it looks like they rescue other types of horses besides Thoroughbreds.
Joy and Patrick, I don’t have this knowledge you both have and appreciate learning about this from you
Was just a suggestion about a rescue that I found so if its not compatible for us no loss. It was sad that Gina was looking for help to save from buyers.
Nancy, I just ask otherwise I wouldn’t know, either.
You are always so compassionate (and a very classy lady)